Volunteer Donors
By a simple process, biological samples will be collect from your mouth using a buccal swab test with the aid of the Ezer Mizion volunteers.
The sample will be retained for unlimited time in order to perform more HLA typing tests if required.
Providing this sample does not in any way constitute a commitment to actively carry out the stem cell donation, should you be found to be a match for a stem cell donation in the future.
Bone Marrow donation (also called Stem Cell donation) is always performed under complete anonymity of the donor and the recipient, voluntarily, with no reward except for reimbursement of expenses.
According to the common practice worldwide, the upper age limit for stem cell donation should not exceed 60 years, thus the donor is excluded from the registry when reaching that age.
Since there are medical conditions that preclude the possibility of future donations, you are requested to fill out a health history questionnaire form.
If you will be found to be a match to a patient in need, you will be invited to an additional blood-collection for confirmatory typing purposes. If you will express your consent to proceed with the donation process, you will be called for a consultation with a physician where you will receive comprehensive information about the donation process and provide your consent.
It is important for you to become familiar with the stem cell donation procedure, which is executed today in one of the following options:
- Peripheral Blood Stem Cell donation – this is the common method today for the collection of stem cells. Four days before the donation day the donor receives daily injections of a substance called G-CSF, which stimulates the bone marrow to produce stem cells and release them into the bloodstream. On the 5th day, the donor has to arrive to a medical center where the stem cells are harvested in a rather simple procedure. The two arm veins are connected to an apheresis machine by needles. One connection will extract blood from the donor’s body and the other will retrieve the blood into the body. The process’s duration is expected to take few hours, and causes mild discomfort due to the needles insertion and the need to remain in one place (either lying or sitting) through the process. The substance G-CSF is in extensive use worldwide for many years. The substance has several known side effects, mostly mild, which resembles the symptoms of the flu: mild or moderate bones aches mostly in the lower back or the long bones of the limbs which can be treated with Paracetamol (for example Acamol®), muscle pains, fatigue, headaches, low temperature or shivers. In addition, other potential side effects may be pain and mild redness or other allergic reactions in the injection site.
- Bone Marrow donation – Another infrequent method for collection of stem cells is directly from the bone-marrow. This collection method was common in the past and is performed by a surgical procedure from the pelvic bone. The procedure will take place under general anesthesia. This method does not require receiving G-CSF injections. Common adverse events may be local pain in the pelvic bone (which can be eased with administration of Paracetamol) or complications during the anesthesia process.
